Transfer apparatus for traction-cable cars



(Nd Model.)

A. G. MIDDLETON.

TRANSFER-APPARATUS FOR TRACTION GAB-LE (JARS. No. 422,352. Patentedl'gb.25, ]890.

' H WITNESSES INVEYNTOR: I

ATTORN EYQ. 2

N. PEYERS. Phawumagm w. Walhinglm D20- UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALICE G. MIDDLETON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR TRACTION-CABLE CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,352, datedFebruary. 25, 1890.

Application filed May 9 1889. Serial No. 310,108. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, Amen G. MIDDLETON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Transfer Apparatus forTraction-Gable Cars, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists 'of apparatus for transferring or switching cablecars from one track to a crossing track, the several features of theinvention being hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in theclaim, the essential feature of the invention being the provision of anauxiliary cable adjacent to the crossing and the operation of the sameby the main or crossing cable.

Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of a transfer apparatus fortraction-cables embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sideelevation of a portion thereof. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation ofanother detached portion. Fig.4 represents a top or plan View of aportion on a reduced scale. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation on areduced scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A and B designate traction-cables which crosseach other, as at O.

D designates a trench, which is formed adjacent to the crossing andextends in the directions of the two cables A and B. Within the trenchare mounted a number of grooved rollers E, whose axes are vertical andproperly supported, said rollers being arranged in a curvilineardirection or row. Near one end of said row of rollers is mounted agrooved pulley F, and near the other end is mounted a grooved pulley G,both pulleys being substantially tangential to said row of rollers andhaving horizontal axes, the pulley G being formed with two grooves 1 2in its periphery, or in lieu thereof two grooved pulleys may beemployed, the same being placed side by side on the same axis or shaft.

In the trench near the crossing C is a grooved pulley H, having avertical axis, it being noticed that said pulley occupies the angle ofthe trench, While the pulleys F G occupy the ends thereof.

J designates an endless auxiliary cable, the same passing around thepulley F against the rollers E, and around the pulley G in the groove 1thereof and around the pulley H, it being seen that the pulley F isparallel or approximately parallel with the cable A, and the pulley G isparallel or approximately parallel with the cable B.

Mounted in the trench between the crossing O and the pulley G is agrooved pulley K, Whose axis is slightly inclined. so thatthe cable canreadily pass around the pulleys G and K without its parts coming incontact and rubbing on each other, or being strained or bent, saidpulley being so located that the cable B passes the same, after which itis run around the pulley G in the groove 2 thereof, and then returnedand run around the pulley K, by which provision the cable B communicatesmotion to the pulley G, the effect of which is the operation of theauxiliary cable.

When a car is running on the cable A in the direction of arrow 1, and itis desired to transfer the same to the cable B, running in the directionof arrow 2, the grip is released as the car approaches the pulley F, andthe momentum of the car carries it over the switch of the turn-off trackat this point. When the grip is again closed, it then engages with theauxiliary cable J, so that the car is drawn by the latter in thedirection of the arrow 3. The grip is released as it approaches thepulley G, and after it passes the same it is engaged with the cable B,so that the car is propelled in the direction of the arrow 2.

It is evident that the apparatus'may be adapted to transfer the car fromthe track over the cable B to that over the cable A, and likewiselocated at any angle of a crossing, according to requirements.

As the cable J may become loose and thus drop or slip, it is importantto obviate the same. For this purpose I employ a horizontal roller L,which is fitted to a slide M, mounted in any suitable part of thetrench. Gonnected with said slide is a cord or chain N, which passesover a pulley P, and having at its lower end a weight Q, whereby theroller L is pressed against the cable, so that the latter has its slacktaken up and it is kept in proper taut condition, it being evident thata spring may be employed to bear against the roller L in lieu of theweight Q.

I am aware that it is not new to combine with cross-cables atransfer-cable having motion communicated to it by means of one of saidcross-cables, and such I do not claim; but I am not aware that thespecific construction herein set forth and claimed is old, wherein oneof the wheels of the operating mechanism of the transfer-cable isprovided with two grooves, around and in one of which is passed across-cable, which is then passed around a pulley in the line of thesaid crosscable. Neither is the device herein shown for the automaticadjustment of the transfercable thought to be common, the said devicebeing automatic at all times in its action.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the cross-cables A and B, the curvilinear row ofpulleys E, having vertical axes, the pulleys F and G on horizontal axes,the said pulley G having grooves 1 and 2, the pulley H on a verticalaxis, an endless auxiliary cable J, passing around the pulley F againstthe rollers E and around groove 1 of pulley G and around the pulley Hback to pulley F, an inclined grooved pulley K, passed by the cable B,which encircles groove 2 of pulley G, and then returns backward toencircle pulley K to operate the auxiliary cable J, and a tension devicefor said cable J, consisting of a slide M, fitted with a horizontalroller L, said slide having a cord or chain N attached thereto, whichpasses over a pulley P and has a weight Q at its lower end, whereby theroller L is pressed against the cable J, so that the latter has itsslack taken up and is kept in proper taut condition, substantially asdescribed.

ALICE G. MIDDLETON. Witnesses:

A. P. JENNINGS, L. JENNINGS.

